Country's biggest literary fest set in Subic FreeportJan 24, 2014

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT - Top literary writers from all over the country will converge in this free port on February 24-26 for "Taboan 2014," the biggest literary festival in the country that will be held in line with the celebration of the National Arts Month (NAM).

Billed as "Wind and Waves, Wars and Words," the three-day festival is a landmark project of the National Committee on Literary Arts of the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA).

"This will not only showcase the beauty of Filipino literary arts, but also the well-preserved natural beauty of Subic Bay for all Filipino and foreign visitors to see," Garcia said.

Festival director Dr. Juliet Mallari said that top literary writers and enthusiasts, as well as teachers and students from various regions, are expected to join forums, lectures, book fairs, literary readings, performances, arts and crafts exhibits, and cultural tours during the event.

Mallari noted that the festival will also serve as a venue to encourage local writers in Zambales to group themselves together and revive literature in the province.

"We can help them to form a group with the objective to revive literature in Zambales. And soon they could present stage plays, Zambalena dances in events like this," she said.

Meanwhile, NCCA chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. said that also in celebration of the NAM, the Philippine Arts Festival has taken the theme "Art on the Edge" to focus on the healing capacity of the arts.